Wardrobe case for men&#39;s suits and women&#39;s dresses on hangers



S. WARDROBE CASE FOR MENS SUITS AND L. KLEBER Feb. 8, 1949.

WOMEN S DRESSES ON HANGERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 4, 1946 WITNESSES:

4; ATTORNEYS Feb. 8;, 1949. s. KLEBER WARDROBE CASE FOR MEN'S SUITS AND WOMENS DRESSES ON HANGERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fild May 4, 1946 INVENTOR fi j aar/lvv A, ATTORNEYS [DWI- WlTNES SES:

Patented Feb. 8, 1949 WARDROBE CASE FOR MENS SUITS AND WOMENS DRESSES ON HANGERS Samuel L. Kleber, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Kleber Trunk & Bag Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May '4, 1946, Serial No. 667,267

3 Claims. (01. 190-41) This invention relates to luggage, and more particularly to wardrobe cases in which clothes are hung on hangers.

It is among the objects of this invention to'provide a wardrobe case in which both suits and dresses can be hung, which supports such garments in folded condition with a minimum of wrinkling, which is provided with a sturdy lightweight garment-folding frame, and which includes novel means for supporting the frame and a removable bar around which long garments are folded.

In accordance with this invention the wardrobe case has the usual top section hinged at one side to a bottom section so that when the case is resting fiat on a support, it can be opened by swinging the top section up into upright position. In that position the top section has a support for hangers suspended from-its upper wall and another support for hangers mounted on its lower wall. The upper hangers are for long garments, such as dresses and top coats, while the lower hangers are for shorter garments, such as suits and jackets. kiside the case there also is a frame which is pivoted at its inner end on a horizontal axis near the joint between the two sections of th ease. Garments on the hangers are folded over the outer end of the frame and extend along its opposite sides. The garments are held against the outside of the frameby any suitable means, such as a strap. Short garments mounted on the lower hangers are placed next to the frame and are covered by the long garments suspended from the upper hangers. The long garments extend downwardly from the upper hangers and around a retaining bar before extending outwardly along the frame. taining bar is located adjacent the inner end of the frame. Preferably, the frame is pivotally connected to brackets attached to the end walls of the top section of the case. These brackets have inwardly offset portions provided with openings in which the retaining bar is removably mounted. Most suitably, this bar is in the form of a tube having one end extending through an opening in the adjacent bracket, and a springpressed pin in its opposite end projecting through an opening in the other bracket. By moving the tube toward its pin end, the opposite end of the bar can be removed from one bracket and then the pin withdrawn from the other bracket.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which l. is a perspective view of my wardrobe case shown open with the frame swung down.

The rea like case has, when lying flat, a bottom section I.

to the rear edge of which a coveror top section 2 is connected by hinges 3 (Fig. '3) As shown, the V topsection stands substantially upright at right angles to the bottom section when the case is open, and in this position the top section has a lower wall 4 and an upper wall 5 connectedat' their ends by vertical end walls I and all 'of which'are connected by a side wall. athat forms the top of the case when it is closed. Whenthe case is closed the two sections are locked together by latches .9 and keepers ,Il mounted thereon. Thefront' wall of the bottom section is provided with the usual handle [2 for carryingthecase. f c I Q I Mounted on the inside of end walls I of the top section are a pair of brackets l3 each of which has an upper portion riveted to the adjoining wall, and an inwardly offset lower portion spaced from the same wall. As shown in Fig; 3 the lower endsof the brackets are disposed near thelower wall of the top section, and the brackets are inclined so that their lower ends are farther from side wall 8 than are their upper ends. The lower ends of the brackets are provided with holes in which pins it are pivotally mounted. These pins are rigidly'mounted in the inner or rear end of a frame I6 over. the outer or front end of which garments can'be folded so that they will extend along both sides of it. This frame preferably,

is formed from a lightmetal tube, such as aluminum, which is bent to provide parallel side members integrally connected at their outer ends by an end member. The frame may be reinforced by a straight tube ll connected at its ends to the central portions of the side members. It will be obvious that the frame can stand upright in the upright top section of the case as shown in Figs.'2 and 3, or be swung down into the bottom section as shown in Fig. 1. When the frame is in the latter position its outer end is supported by seating members ill on which rest pins l9 that project laterally from the sides of the frame. When the frame is swung up into the top section of the open case these pins snap intospring catchesll, attached to the end walls of the top section, for holding the frame therein. on the frame. The outer ends of the two gar- The lower wall of the upright top section is inents generally will be close together. Of course, provided centrally with a metal loop 22 through more than two garments can be hung in this case which one or more clotheshangers 23 can be by using more hangers. After arranging the garhooked. When the frame is upright a relatively 5 merits neatly on the frame, the latter is swung up short gamient,. ,such.asma jacketsor .manis suit intoihetousection and ,heldby catches 2! which coat, mounted: on a hanger 23 extendsnup ward yi; engage pinsalQi' This causes the garments on the along the back of the frame, over the top of frame to fold over its outer or upper end to hang the frame and down its front side. To hold the down its front side. Curtain 25 is let down in front outer fold of the garment against the front of the of the garments, and straps 24 are buckled to hold frame when the top section is swunggdownronto t -curtainand-garments in place when t case the bottom section, straps 24 are attached-to tilla is closed; It will be seen that the short garments end walls of the top sectionuandcare buckled. are folded to provide two layers, while folding together across the front ofrzthesfnames Thea otthe, long;garments results in three layers. ppearance of the Open cas s p diands Aceordingtothe provisions of the patent statthe garme t in e D ec flnf Protected utes, I, have explained the principle and conby a clu'tain 25 which hangs fro t e BX Wall" structi'oirof my invention and have illustrated and of that section down in front of the fnamcebedeseribedswhat I now c id t represent its tween the garments d the t P This 0111 best embodiment. However, I desire to have it tam-can be thrown back o th upper Wall of 20 understood that,..within the scope of the appended $1.19tQD-SEQtiQIIZ-MUEI- P have been. claimathe-invention. may be practiced otherwise ck r a fi nin.F 1. than as specifically illustrated and described.

Anotherfeatnne oflthishinvention isthat this I m casealsotisformed .to holdlong garments; such; 1 mnahwardrvobeicase fcrmed f -mn a top 213 dresses -v and i115 unwl' inkled Bonditio'n tionnwhich is joinedby a hinge connection at one svihafibbihia man and hisavifevcan carryitheil side-to-aebottom section and which is adapted to cldthes on hangers in thisamefiase- For this standrsubstantially upright. when the case is open, Pumps: Wall bffbh LIP-Tight top-Section said upright top section havingupper and lower 1ikewis"e..-carriesametalloopjfi on, whichclothes.. vansdcdnnected by ,verticalhend walls, a support i e i A r-the inwardly? forllong garment hangers suspended from said ofisetlower .porticnssoiabraokets l3laregprovide'd. upper wall, a Support for short garment hangers above pivot ,pinslfi iwithuopemngs whichka f mountedtonrsaid lower wall, a frame pivoted at winner-barisaremovalbltmounted-l The pref" itsinner endinthecase on a horizontal axis adjmm enqetal tube 28 7on8 d jaoent. said-.hingeconnection and adapted to have hn$htha f foldedover its. outer end and'extending along its Wemngtandsubstantlenyiintoengagement W 1th opposite sides :the garments which are mounted J fm n mevopp-oslte' endl'of on-isaidahangers a.--retaining-bar adjacent the the-tubetermmates short (if-the other-bracket by, innerrendrofthe (frame extendingacross gap a distance=greater..than the spacingbetween the ments suspendedyfmm the 1Ong garment hangers g p t p di ep' n t end 40 and: aroundwhich the long garments fold when wall torwhlchliihe latt fi f AS fw the -frame is'swung intosaid top section, means r :shmf't b j' for .gdetachably holding-said .bar ingarment-rewith restricted i through whlchi-aipm: tainingqposition; saidrlower support being posi- -P P Q hole tinned etch suppprt'short-garment hangers bem-theadlflceetebmkeiyandeiubsiamlanyimie tweemsaidlbariand: the open side of said top secp e o m e t te W This tiongsorthat short garments will lie next to the if???' WP%-- -W 33i; frametand retaining means for holding the garpresse e .weensl S ea Jan alive r0ug t I e e the,-tube...D11e,,to the inclination .of. the brackets. a? aga'mst'dthe the lame Opposlt th theretammgbarjsiabweand behindme Inna wardrobe case formed from a top secotedinner end of, th.e '.fra fi Q L 111 -l tionwhich is Joined by a hinge connection at one Whergby 9 lsmleft 9 fi im m? m side tosabottom section and which is adapted to bar. andthefliamee. Whennt is desired to remove sfiandfi substantially upright when the case is the retaining bar from the brackets, tube (28"is' openysaid upright top Section .havim upper and movedimwardits pin-enmithislmovementbeing? 5 lowenl -wal-lssconnected by vertical end walls, a permitted bY-Sm'mgJL The-W995i end of support for; longegalment hangers suspended tubesthusmisefreedJfnomthe.adjoming brachet; fmmlrgsaidnuppervwau, axsuppert for g. i t j P F W F pln'zeucan" menthangers mounted onsaid lower wall, a pair b m; P F ibr-acketof;hraoketssrigidlymounted on said end walls adwheneboth l0ng and. 1te jacent. said .lower wall, eachof said brackets bebeihung n fi fi the frame ingeinclined-downward toward the open side of first.is,releasedffiomcatches-if andsw ned idto section andhaving an upper portion intorbottom, section .1 until pins i9frest on seating. cured toithe adjoininglendvwau and a lower members ,lil,- andsthen, the retaining bari 1 tion ofiset inwardly; from said upper portion, the moiledsfromhbracketsl I345. Alfih rfi flli e lower,ends of said-brackets. being provided with hung onsloweix-hanger 23 randtpulle'dnout straight, ivottholes each of... S id lower portigns being across. the frame .andr-the-.,fr.ont .ofeth'e case... A provided .between its pivot hofe and upper end lon tgarmenttthensis hung, on hanger .21 from withaxetaining opening, a frame provided a its whicheit-hangs. stra h own.withitslower.110 inner .endwith. lateral. pins projecting into said tion-rresti-ngs nathe:shbr g rment. beluwit... The pivot holes tolpivotally connect it to said brackets, retaining t eplacedai brackets .-l3 so. .that. said-frame beingladapted to have folded over its theibar willeextendamS es owerspartiofathe outersendnandkextendingalong its oppositesides vertical, portion. 0f,,the. 1ong,. garn1ent The-:rest, thegarments. which are mounted on said hangers, of:theslong garmentsthen is;=pul1edlouttstraightr anda retainingbar. providedxat one end with a from the bar and across the short garment lying longitudinally projecting spring-pressed pin, said bar being removably mounted in said retaining openings with said spring-pressed pin and the opposite end of the bar disposed close to said end walls, said lower support being positioned to support short garment hangers between said bar and the open side of said top section so that short garments will lie next to the frame.

3. In a wardrobe case formed from a top section which is joined by a hinge connection at one side to a bottom section and which is adapted to stand substantially upright when the case is open, said upright top section having upper and lower walls connected by vertical end walls, a support for long-garment hangers suspended from said upper wall, a lower support for short-garment hangers mounted on said lower wall, a frame pivoted at its inner end in the case on a horizontal axis adjacent said hinge connection and adapted to have folded over its outer end and extending along its opposite sides the garments which are mounted on said hangers, and a removable retaining bar adjacent the inner end of the frame for extending across garments supported from the long-garment hangers and around which the long garments fold when the frame is swung into said top section, said lower support extending from below the bar toward the open side of the top section for supporting short garrnent hangers between said. bar and the open side of said top section so that short garments will lie next to the frame.

SAMUEL L. KLEBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 28, 1938 

